Exterior Painting
Self-cleaning facade paint that stays bright for years, even in London weather.
Get a QuoteRender, masonry, woodwork and everything that holds the weather out.
Exterior decorating covers rendered and pebble-dashed elevations, brick and stone masonry, exterior woodwork, windows and doors, porches, and the roofline. On most houses these need several different products and several different preparation methods on the same scaffold.
We are StoColor Dryonic approved applicators, which matters on a facade: the coating only performs as specified if it is applied to the system the manufacturer tested.
If the roofline itself needs attention, that is covered under fascias, soffits and guttering.
British weather finds every shortcut.
Exterior preparation starts with washing down to remove algae, dirt and chalked old coating, then cutting out and repairing cracked or hollow render, raking and repointing where needed, and treating any organic growth so it does not push back through the new film.
Bare and repaired areas are stabilised and primed. Exterior woodwork gets the worst of it: end grain, bottom rails and glazing beads are where rot starts, so these are cut out and made good rather than filled and painted over.
Timing matters more outside than in. Coatings need surface temperature and humidity inside the manufacturer's window to form a proper film, which in practice rules out painting late in the day in autumn even when it is not raining.
A facade coating is a system, not a tin of paint.
The coating we recommend most on facades is StoColor Dryonic. Its surface is modelled on the shell of a fog-basking beetle, shedding moisture quickly so the wall dries fast and gives algae and fungi far less chance to establish. It was tested by the Fraunhofer Institute for the fastest drying time of any facade paint in the comparison.
Masonry paints differ in how much they let a wall breathe. On older solid-wall construction a breathable mineral coating is usually the right answer, and sealing such a wall with an impermeable film traps moisture and causes more damage than it prevents.
Where summer heat is the problem rather than weathering, a heat-reflective roof and facade system addresses a different issue again.
Scaffold time is the expensive part — use it once.
Because access is the costly element of exterior work, it pays to do everything that needs the scaffold in one visit: facade coating, woodwork, the roofline, gutter clearing and any repointing or repairs.
We will tell you honestly when an elevation does not need doing yet. Repainting a sound, breathable facade early does not extend its life, and on some surfaces it shortens it.
Exterior schemes are normally best started between late spring and early autumn, and the south and west elevations take the most weather, so they usually come up for attention first.
Questions we are asked about this work.
What time of year should exterior work be done?
Normally between late spring and early autumn. Coatings need surface temperature and humidity inside the manufacturer's window to form a proper film, which rules out painting late in the day in autumn even when it is not raining.
Can you use ordinary masonry paint on an older house?
Usually not. Older solid walls need to dry out, and sealing one with an impermeable film traps moisture and causes more damage than it prevents. On solid-walled property we use breathable mineral coatings.
Can the roofline be done at the same time?
That is usually the sensible order, because the access is already in place. Scaffold is charged by time on site, so facade, windows, the roofline and any repointing are best grouped into one visit.
How do you prepare an exterior?
Washing down to remove algae, dirt and chalked old coating, cutting out and repairing cracked or hollow render, repointing where needed, then stabilising and priming bare or repaired areas. Exterior woodwork gets particular attention at end grain and bottom rails, where rot starts.
Will you tell us if it does not need doing yet?
Yes. Repainting a sound, breathable facade early does not extend its life, and on some surfaces it shortens it.
Tell us about your project
Send a few details and we will come back to you with a free, no-obligation estimate.
Contact Us Directly
Phone / WhatsApp
07968 994 595Location
London & Hertfordshire
Working Hours
Monday - Friday: 7:00am - 6:00pm
Saturday: 8:00am - 2:00pm
Sunday: Closed
Bring your walls to life.
Talk to BestFinish about a whiteboard wall installation — we'll survey the space, specify the right product, and give you an honest quote.